Bottle closure



June 22, 1937. c. J. JESNIG 2,084,344

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed Oct. 9, 1934 INVENTOR /wm. ES JJ-am/a.

ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLECLOSURE Charles J. Jesnig, Phil adelphia, Pa., assignor to ApplicationOctober 9,

16 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle closures, and particularly totamper-proof closures for bottles, and constitutes an improvement uponthe bottle and closure disclosed in my application Ser. No.

It is among the objects of this invention; to provide an improved bottleclosure; to provide an improved bottle; to provide a bottle with acoopcrating closure such as to effect a substantially 1O tamper-proofassembly; to provide a bottle with a permanently attached closure; toprovide a bottle neck and closure of such distinction as to be readilyindentified; to provide a closure of a substantially smooth outercontour such as to facilitate printing, embossing or marking; to providea bottle closure such as to eliminate back lash at the termination ofpouring from the bottle; to provide a bottle pouring openingfacilitating smooth pouring with exact termination of pouring to preventdripping and waste; to provide a substantially non-refillable bottle; toprovide an adapter for correcting an ordinary or open-mouthed bottleinto a simulation of the improved bottle of this invention; to provide ahottie and closure such as to conduce toward machine filling byauthorized persons, while militating against unauthorized machinefilling; and many other objects and advantages will become more apparentas the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of an as sembled bottle and closureaccording to a preferred form thereof,

Fig. 2 represents a plan of the assembly of 35 Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 represents a detached or separated fragmentary section andelevation of a bottle neck and the respective closure elementsaccording'to a preferred embodiment thereof,

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary vertical section of the neck and mouthof a bottle with the closure sealed against egress,

Fig. 5 represents a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 4, with theclosure moved to unsealed, opened, pouring position,

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary vertical section of an open-mouthedbottle with an adapter for converting it into a bottle like that of Fig.3,

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary elevation of a 50 modified form ofbottle, showing in section a modified form of adapter associated withthe bottle neck to simulate the bottle of Fig. 3,

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary plan of the T mouth of the bottleaccording to one form thereo of,

1934, Serial No. 747,551

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary vertical section through a bottle andclosure with an inserted valve forming the unit into a substantiallynonrefillable bottle, and

Fig. 10 represents a plan of the sealing, nonrefillable valve element.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that in the preferredembodiment of the invention, the bottle It! has a neck ll provided witha peripheral shoulder l2, suitably spaced from the free end of the neck;forming an abutment over which the tear-off strip, to be described, isto be clinched. Cast into the neck above the tearing shoulder I2 is arelatively deep and angular hellcal groove, or pair of grooves, formingthreads l3;

Note that the groove threads 13 are formed in a portion M, the exposedouter area of which is cylindrical so that the cylindrical outer cap, tobe described, can slide freely thereon. The threads l3 terminate attheir upper portions at least, in an abrupt or'square end I5, whichforms a positive stop for the lug to be described. The cylindricalportion M of the neck I i has a shoulder H5 at its upper end, and thefree end of the neck extends upwardly from the shoulder It in a slightlyreduced end ll, of such outer diameter as to slidably receive the innercap of the closure to be described.

The free end or mouth of the bottle comprises an annular wall or rim 18having a depressed integral outwardly directed concentric frusto-conicalweb 20, having the plane end 2!, preferably extended slightly beyond theupper level of the rim l8. The web 20 joins rim l8 inwardlyof the outerend so as to form an annular groove, gutter or recess 22. Communicationof the inside of the bottlel0 with the space surrounding the outer areaof the symmetrical conical web is formed preferably by the provision inthe web of at least two openings 23, which may each comprise round orother shaped openings, as the arcuately disposed oval openings shown inFig. 8. The open.-

ings are each eccentric to the longitudinal. axis.

bottle manufacturers, than to goto the troublev and expense of equipmentand training necessary to provide the preferred form of unitary bottleaccording to the instant invention. Re-

Vferring first to Fig; 6, a bottleneck 24, provided with the tearingshoulder l2, and recessed or grooved thread l3, shoulder'lfi and reducedouter portion H as in the disclosures of Figs. 3, 4 and is provided, andthere is also provided a reduced bead H and recess as an anchor for theindependent adapter 26. The -adapter26maybe of any material such asmolded glass, in which case it may be cemented to'the bottle, or evenfused thereto if desired, or it? may, and. prefer ably does, comprise astamping of sheetmetal V as shown. 7

The adapter 26 of Fig. 6 comprises a skirt 2], the outer diameter ofwhich issubstantially identical with that of the reduced endll: of thebottle neck, and'has its lower edge crimped or bent over the bead 2 4and'into recess 25, whereby-- the adapter is immovablyl securedsubstantially permanently to the bottle neck-2'4. Theskirt 21 of theadapter is bent over uponitself to define the annular rim 2%; and isstamped .to'form the webtll havingthe irusto-conical closed coaxial end3|, and is provided With'the eccentric-taper tures 32 in as large numberas desired; ,Obvi.-, .ously theadapter thus described can be stamped;

. moldecL'swaged, or otherwise formed. When the adapteris anchored tothe bottle'jthe eliect is similar to that of the integral one piecebottle.

While the adapter of Fig. 6 is thoroughly practical and usable, it isrelatively expensive to produce and'apply, and is thereforenot the pre-7 ferred form, which, however, isshown infFig. 7.

In this form ,ofinvention thebo-ttle neck has the same reduced externalportion l'l terminating in the shoulder 55, and the same cylindricalsurw face I4-and tearing shoulder 12, as in the forms 7 describedpreviously, although as will be later explained, the thread inthe-cylindrical portion is modified. The mouth cfgthe glass bottle isformed by annular rim [9 having the internal shoulder: 29. The adaptercomprises essentially' the closed Irusto-conical axial web 49, suitablyapertured as at8'be1ow the closed end, 'andsultably disposed within therim 1 9 upon the shoulder 29 thereof. Theadapter may comprise a merespider, the radial legs of which'frictionally errgage the shoulder 29,1although preferably the adapter includes an annular outer concentric rimhaving a resilient edge to frictionally en gage the inner surface of rimIS. The apertures 8 obviouslylmaybe as great in number as'dej sired andneed not be disposed so that'a line parallel with the axislcan passsubstantially con-r centrically through them, as'is desirable whereObviously the adapter of Fig.7 may be axially inserted to frictionalseating afterthe bottle has been suitably filled. Of courseit'isgcontemplated that theadapter of Fig. 7 may be permanently andpositively engaged with the bottle in any desired manner if this shouldbe found expedient, although'the'frictional engagement is satisfactoryfor most purposes. V

It is to be observed that is comprised on one side by the glass or othermaterial rim l9, while on the other side and at the bottom, it iscomprised of themetallicor composition adapter 49, and has apertures 8,

forming communication 7 between, the bottle interior and the'gutter.

' The closure element of this invention comprises preferably twoelements, to wit, aninner cap 33 whic h forms the sealinglelement,andthe,

the bottle must be filled through such apertures.

I I the bottle of Fig. '7 provides a gutter as in the other form butwhich outer cap 34', comprising the seal ,actuater; V The inner cap 33,preferably drawn from a sheet of metal, comprises a larger cylindricalportion 35 arranged to tightly but slidably engage the re- V du'ced endI'I, of-the bottle end, and has atransverse web 36 merging into thecylindrical extent by a recessed or annularly concave portion 31 alignedsubstantially with the rim l8, or 28, of

the bottle, and having a smaller or reduced cylindrical portion 38,concentric with thecylindrical skirt 35, the inner diameter of whichcylinder is slightly greater, preferably,than the diameter of the; planeend 2| of the conical web-20. The

inner cap 33 has preferably sealing elements as-v sociated with it, andcomprised for instance of a sheet of relatively softsealingniaterial-Msuch as composition cork'or the like, with, a facinglayer of metal foil to protect the s'ealif this should be: desiredand'for'general'purposes it is preferred. "The sealing elements haveregistering coaxial openings 42 and respectively, ar-

duced cylindrical shank 38 of theinner cap.

outer cap is provided with a'band 44, an integral portion preferablyoffcap '34, but detached there 1 from throughout the periphery of thecap except for one or more slender weakened attaching tongues 45, soarranged as to permit easy manual manipulation to sever the cap 33 fromband 44, after the latter has been anchored to the bottleranged forsubstantial registration with the -re-i neck by clinching about theshoulder -l 2;las will 7 be readily understood. ,The cap 33 at'its outerend has a conical portion 46 having an axial opening 41, of diametersufiicient to have s'lidable; engagement over the reducedcylindrical end38 of the inner cap, and includes a transverse sub- 7 stantially plane.Web" portion 48 to engage the convex side of ring 31 of the-innercaptoapply sealing pressure thereto; H l

The, inner cap, with its associatedsealing ele-f ment 'frictionallyoradhesively secured in place therein is assembled 11113119 outer'capr34with the reduced cylindrical shank 38 extending through theaxial-opening 41, then the end of the tubularshank is spun over asat48in such way as to permit a slight axial as well as rotative.

relative motion of the inner and outer caps.

, The bottle having been properly filled, as by the insertion ofpfillingtubes through the appropriate openings 23 or 32, an assembled closure ispushed over :the erid ofthe bottleneck until 7 the sealing. elements 40.a'nd 4| engage yieldingly but sealingly both the upper edge surface ofthe i rim l8, 19 or 28, as well as the tapered surface of the cone belowthe plane endl 2i thereof, so as to seal the guttergand, ofcourse,thejopenings 23 or 8, etc.

While a the caps are thus firmly held, or after abutments 59 are formedand the caps rotated on their threads to 'force them axially downward,the lower edge'of tearing strip 44 is spun or'otherwise bent' about theshoulder I2 of the neck. Whilethe cap or closure is firmly helddownwardlyflon the neck, and either before, during, or after thespinning of the tear ihg strip 44 on the shoulder, a pair of plungersare brought to bear radially 'of the cylindrical closure element inproper relation to the'threads l3 so as to form at least one,.andpreferably a pair of diametrically disposed, inwardly extendnormal andpreferred case, but may be made ing locking lugs or abutments arrangedto fit tightly within the square thread recess 13, and of such size andshape as to positively engage the end shoulder l5 thereof when the capis ultimately rotated. The threads l3 and bottle are so disposed thatthe median molding line 5! or other indicator has predetermined angularrelation to the ends of threads 53 so as to facilitate the positioningof the bottle so as to cause the indentation of the walls of the outercap characterizing the lug or abutment 5G, to be exactly and positivelydisposed in threads l3, without breaking the bottle.

Referring to Fig. 9 there is disclosed the same arrangement of parts asto bottle neck and closure assembly as in the preferred forms shown inFigs. 3 and 4 for instance, and the parts are all the same and have thesame reference characters, although it may be preferred to form a ratherdeeper gutter than usual when the gravity valve element about to bedescribed, is to be used, in order to secure such clearances to insurefree and untrammeled gravity actuation of the valve in each direction.Seated loosely and gravitationally in the annular gutter or recess 22 ofthe bottle, and between the surface of the gutter and the surface of thesealing elements M! and M is the valve disc 52 having the centralaperture 53. The disc is concave in radial section, and the upwardlyinclined portions are short enough, preferably, as to just cover theapertures 23, or 32, without extending up the side walls of the gutter adistance sufficient as to cause it to be in the way of or in contactwith the sealing elements as this is undesirable. A deeper gutterfacilitates this. Obviously, tilting the bottle after twisting theclosure on its threads and raising the sealing device, permits the valveelement to fall away from the mouths of the apertures in the gutter,while still axially anchored and confined by engagement of the centralaxial bore of the valve disc over the truncated cone of the central web.This action permits the free fiow of the fluid from the bottle.Obviously as soon as the bottle is moved to upright position again, theapertures are again closed by the valve element 52. Clearly, if desired,the valve element might have any desired sort of facing or backing tofacilitate its functioning. It is not necessary that there be a groundseal between the Valve disc 52 and the bottle gutter, as the mereclosing of the apertures is sufiicient to make the bottle and aperturesso airbound that but slight amounts of liquid, if any at all, can becaused to enter when the permanently attached closure is in place.

It will be understood that in all forms of the invention, after theouter cap strip crimped or bent into attached relation and the wallindented as at 50, the inner cap having been slid simultaneously on itsguide surface to sealing relation with the end of the neck, it isnecessary to move the outer cap axially out of its clamping engagementwith the inner cap before the latter can move or be moved to permitpouring. In the form shown in Figs; 3, 4, etc., the initial rotation ofthe outer cap causes it to turn on threads 53 through abutments 50 andto be moved axially away from the end of the bottle neck, or mouth,carrying the inner cap axially with it, to unseal the closure. Duringthis movement it is preferred that the inner cap have axial movementonly. This is secured by the tight fit of the inner cap about thereduced end of the bottle in the more definite by the provision of avertical rib or bead or the like on the neck (not shown), with which theinner cap may engage longitudinally, to form a cooperating crease orslight bend, or merely a frictional engagement tending to precluderotation, although this affords a clearance through which liquids mayseep. It is found that in some cases the reduced end of the bottle neckis not exactly round, but may be slightly oval by a minute degree. Inthis case it will require that the inner cap be slightly distorted topermit its sliding engagement with such reduced end, and this in turntends to prevent rotation. Obviously rotation of the inner cap, ifdesired for any purpose, may be arranged or permitted, although it mayconduce to more rapid wear of the sealing elements.

It is preferred, in any case, that the inner can have a fit sufiicientlytight about the reduced end of the bottle neck, as to minimize orpreclude leakage of any of the liquid from the bottle, between the neckand the inner cap after pouring. This provision of the instant inventionof a tight sleeve engaging the outer periphery of the bottle mouth as aseal, and the consequent elimination of back lash marks a feature ofimprovement of the instant'invention over that shown in my earlierannlication'Ser. No. 720.961.

It being recognized that the axial movement of the inner cap betweensealed and unsealed relationship to the end of the bottle is the desiredmovement after disruption of the tearing strip and the outer cap, itwill be recognized that any desired sort of thread arrangements may beused as may fit any required condition. Thus the external threads of theaforesaid application may be used with the instant closure, instead ofthe indented threads herein. Illustratively, it is recognized that itmay be considered a little onerous to be required to twist the outer capto the degree indicated by the pitch of the threads l3 of Fig. 3, tosecure complete opening of the closure. The modification shown in Fig. 7may be resorted to to secure release from looking pressure, or to securelocking pressure, with a minimum of rotational effort, but with possiblyconsiderable manual sliding effort to effect the desired end. Thus arecessed thread groove 5% has a vertical portion 55, and a smallinclinedwedging or locking groove 56. The indentation or abutment 50 of theouter cap, being disposed in the groove 54, may engage the inclinedportion 55 to apply sealing pressure or the unseating of the inner cap,according to the direction of relative travel or rotation. After theinitial unsealing pressure resulting from relative movement of theabutment and inclined thread, the abutment reaches the vertical groove55, and the outer and inner cap may then be moved together amally tocomplete unsealing and the establishment of pouring relation by manualpull. Conversely, to seal, the outer cap carrying the associated innercap, is pushed axially toward sealing and thereafter, the abutmentengages the inclined groove portion to force the closure toward sealing.

Attention should be directed to the preferred form of closure element inthat the reduced cylindrical extension 38 of the inner cap, is spun orturned over at 48 to form the pouring mouth of the closure bottle enditself, to prevent the 'insertion of any refilling tubes in either ofthe respective apertures, or for such like purpose. From the viewpointof pouring, the reduced cylindrical spout thus provided enables theliquid V to emerge from that aperture 8-, 23 or 32 having the lowestpoint from which it flows smoothly in of the bottle adjacent tosaidrimand having a a small stream through the spout 38. Simultaneously airentering'the upper portionof the mouth of spout 38 passes down aroundthe frustoconical central element into the upper portion of the highestaperture 8, 23 or 32 to vent the bottle and permit free and but slightlyrestricted flow. When inltilting the bottle rafter pouring 10 thereareno straggling drops left on the edge of mouth '38, as the stoppage ofpouring is practically instantaneous." Moreover, as eXplained thethat'is between the upper-surface of the gutter and the spout at thetime the valve element closes the apertures through the gutter into thebottle Will' remain in place, or, depending upon the degree of sealing,will, slowly seep back'into' the bott1e a V ,7 c

The many advantages of the bottle, and the closure, and the assemblyprovided by the combination, will be evidentto those skilled in the 7art, as will the fact that many modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; l a 1 Iclaim as my invention:

1, In bottle closures, a sealing cap arranged for axial movement"between sealing and unsealing'; positions, rotatable means movablerelative to and arranged for engaging a bottle neckfor mov-' ing thesealing cap axially of the bottle having a portion engaging said cap,means permanently j securing the means to such bottleneck, the cap 40and means being arranged for relative angular movement, the sealing caphaving a concentric of the bottle adjacent the mouth to preventbacklash, and independent rotatable means for engaging said element tomove itlaxially. w

3. In'combination a bottle having a neck-pro.-

vided with a mouth and a concentric axially ex-- tending protuberance, asealing'element having a engage .the protuberance, said sealing elementhaving a tight engagement with the neck of thebottle adjacent the mouthto prevent back-lash,

and independent movablemeans for forcing the 0 element axially intosealing engagement.

7 4. In combination a bottle having a neck provided with a mouth and aconcentric axially extending protuberance, a sealing element having aconcentric pouring openingarranged to sealingly engage the protuberance,said sealing element bottle adjacent the mouth to prevent back-lash, andmeans comprising a rotatable element housing the sealing element andsaid 'neck adjacent 7 the mouth for forcing the sealing element intosealing engagement With'the protuberance and said element arranged toseal said mouth when sealingly engaging the protuberance.

5. In bottles, a closure comprising a neck having an annular rim'and aconcentric web defining concentric pouring opening arranged tosealingly' having a tight engagement with the neck of the j between theweb and the rim a gutter, an eccentric:

opening in the gutter, a sleeve engaging theneck transverse portion inalignment with the opening,

sleeve axially of the bottle to seal said gutter.

6. In bottles, a'closurelcomprisinga neck hav j ing an annular rim and aconcentric Web defining between the weband the rim a gutter, an eccenatric opening in the gutter, asleeve engaging the neck of thebottle andsaid rim andhavinga; transverse portion in alignment with the opening,

said sleeve havinga pouringopening concentric with the neck and Web,means associated with the V sleeve for sealing the 'gutter to seal theeccentric opening, and means for forcing the sleeve axially of thebottle to seal saidgutter, said means comprising a housing, thread meanson the bottle and housing cooperating to-effect' axial movement;

of the housing in response to rotative housing movement meansoperatively. associating the housing and sleeve to permit limitedrelative axial movement of the, housing and sleeve, to that axialmovement of the housing movesdthe' sleeve positively in each direction.

7. A bottle having a neck with an annulargutter defined bya rim, and acentralconic al protuberance and having apertures in the gutter, movablesealing means for .the gutter and apertures, and an annular valveelementconcentric with the protuberance and loosely disposed in thegutter;

V 8. In bottles, a neck having an' annular jrim, a;j substantiallyconcentric axial protuberance, in-v wardly of the rim and spaced fromthe rim by an" annular gutter, an eccentric opening beings formedin thegutter communicating with the interior of the neckQa sealing cap slidably em bracing the neck adjacent to the rimand having a transverseportion arranged to seal the gutter V ,in one axial position of the cap,a cylindrical pouring spout extending from the transverse portion, andseparate means engaging the spout and engaging said neck to secure axialmovement of said cap. 7 V

9. ,In bottles, a neck having an annular run, a

substantially concentric axial protuberance inwardly of the rim andspaced from the rim by an annular gutter, an eccentric opening beingformedlin the gutter communicating with'the "interior of the neck, avalve disc having an axial opening to'surround said protuberance and havprotuberance and said rim to supplementally seal said opening. a

10, Inbottles, a neck having an'annular rim,

a substantially concentric axial protuberance in-j wardly of the rim andspaced from the rim by an annular gutter, an opening being formed in thegutter communicating with the interior of "the V neck, a closure havingan axial spout and arranged to engage the surface of said protuberance,

said closure having a surface concentric with the spout arranged toengage the rim when the closureengages the protuberance, and substantially cylindrical means onsaid closure arranged to slidably engage theneck adjacent to said rim' 7 to minimize seepage, and supplemental meansengaging said spout andoperatively mounted on said neck to move saidclosure axially to seating and unseating relation.

11. In bottles, a closure comprising an outer cylinder having a taperedend with an axial opening, an inner cylinder slidably disposed in theouter cylinder, the inner cylinder having a transverse web and a reducedintegral axial spout with the latter disposed slidably in the opening ofthe tapered end of the outer cylinder, and means on the spout preventingretraction of the spout from the opening.

12. In bottles, a closure comprising an outer cylinder having a taperedend with an axial opening, an inner cylinder slidably disposed in theouter cylinder, the inner cylinder having a transverse web and a reducedintegral axial spout with the latter disposed slidably in the opening ofthe tapered end of the outer cylinder, and means on the spout preventingretraction of the spout from the opening, and a tearing strip at thelower edge of the outer cylinder.

13. In bottles, a closure comprising an outer cylinder having a taperedend with an axial opening, an inner cylinder slidably disposed in theouter cylinder, the inner cylinder having a transverse web and a reducedintegral axial spout with the latter disposed slidably in the opening ofthe tapered end of the outer cylinder, and means on the spout preventingretraction of the spout from the opening, a bottle having a neck with areduced end to receive the inner cylinder, said neck having an axialprotuberance and an annular rim spaced by an apertured gutter andarranged to be sealingly engaged by the web of the inner cylinder, saidneck having a cylindrical portion to slidably receive the outer cylinderand a thread groove, and an integral extension of the outer cylinderseated in said groove.

14. A closure for bottles comprising an outer and an inner relativelyrotatable cap, the inner cap arranged to axially slidably engage theouter surface of a bottle adjacent the rim of its neck, and having atransverse portion merging into a pouring spout of reduced substantiallycylindrical section, the outer cap having a portion engaging said spoutand having a skirt portion. arranged to directly engage the outersurface of a bottle.

15. In a closure element for bottles, an inner cap having asubstantially cylindrical portion arranged to axially slidably engagethe exterior of a bottle neck adjacent its rim, the inner caphaving atransverse portion extending inwardly of the cylindrical portionsubstantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, and merging into areduced substantially cylindrical pouring spout substantially concentricto such axis, the whole arranged to engage a bottle neck having a rimand a concentric axial protuberance, the contact portion of which is ina substantial plane containing the rim, so as to seal the rim andprotuberance by such transverse portion while engaging the bottleadjacent the rim to prevent back-lash.

16. A bottle closure comprising a bottle neck having an inclinedperipheral groove disposed and eifectively terminating in asubstantially cylindrical surface, a closure element comprising acylindrical sleeve slidably disposed relative to the substantiallycylindrical surface of the bottle neck, an indentation of said sleevebeing seated in said inclined groove to secure threaded operativeassociation with an anchoring of the sleeved closure to the bottle neck,and an inner cap comprising a neck engaging cylindrical portion, atransverse portion and a reduced substantially cylindrical extension,and means coupling the sleeve and inner cap for axial movement together.

CHARLES J. JESNIG.

